Jocelyn Pook
Encyclopedia
Jocelyn Pook is a British
composer
, pianist and viola
player.
, she performed with many pop artists including The Communards
and Massive Attack
, and formed Electra Strings for whom she wrote original material. She has worked extensively with eminent dance companies such as DV8 and Shobana Jeyasingh
, and in 2002 she was commissioned by the BBC Proms to write a work for The King’s Singers in collaboration with Poet Laureate Andrew Motion.
As one of the Leytonstone Contingent, Pook recorded on two occasions with pianist
Jeremy Peyton Jones for Rough Trade and later for Century XXI. About a year later, she joined Anne Stephenson and Audrey Riley
to accompany Virginia Astley
both on stage and record. Session work followed and alternated with her co-founding of the Electra Strings with Australia
n violin
ist Sonia Slany and an album on the Village Life label. This neoclassical chamber quartet
later transformed into the Brilliant Strings after she and Slany had gone their separate ways.
As a solo recording artist, Pook released several albums for the Virgin // Realworld labels. These included Deluge (1997), Flood (1999) and Untold Things (2003). Her career as a film composer
took flight when cuts from her album Flood were used in Stanley Kubrick
's film Eyes Wide Shut
. The piece Masked Ball, which incorporates a fragment of an Orthodox Liturgy
played backwards and lyrics sung (or chanted) in Romanian
, underscored the infamous masked ball sequence.
Further scores have subsequently been contributed to several European films, notably the 2004
film
version of William Shakespeare
's The Merchant of Venice
, Peter Kosminsky's film on David Kelly, The Government Inspector, "Brick Lane" and 2007's Chaotic Ana. Pook was commissioned to write a short opera, Ingerland, for ROH2 (the contemporary producing arm of London's Royal Opera House
) which was performed in the Royal Opera House's Linbury Studio Theatre in June 2010.
movie Mantrap as one of many string players for the album
The Lexicon of Love
. Most of her sessions were for Indie bands throughout the 1980s.
Pook frequently works with vocalist Melanie Pappenheim
, whom she describes as her long-time musical collaborator, and who does the majority of vocal work on Pook's music.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, pianist and viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
player.
Biography
Jocelyn Pook’s distinctive style is a product of her diverse experiences in classical, commercial, and so-called world music. After graduating from London’s Guildhall School of Music and DramaGuildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
, she performed with many pop artists including The Communards
The Communards
The Communards were a British pop duo active from 1985 to 1988. They are most famous for their cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' song, "Don't Leave Me This Way" as well as "Never Can Say Goodbye".-History:...
and Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
, and formed Electra Strings for whom she wrote original material. She has worked extensively with eminent dance companies such as DV8 and Shobana Jeyasingh
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company is a British dance group based in London and founded in 1988 by the company's artistic director and choreographer, Shobana Jeyasingh. The company has toured internationally including in Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, New York and throughout the United Kingdom . It is...
, and in 2002 she was commissioned by the BBC Proms to write a work for The King’s Singers in collaboration with Poet Laureate Andrew Motion.
As one of the Leytonstone Contingent, Pook recorded on two occasions with pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
Jeremy Peyton Jones for Rough Trade and later for Century XXI. About a year later, she joined Anne Stephenson and Audrey Riley
Audrey Riley
Audrey Riley is a cellist and string arranger based in the UK. Riley trained at the Guildhall School of Music with Leonard Stehn and was a cellist for Virginia Astley from 1983 to 1986 and a one-time auxiliary member of The Family Cat. She has been a member of the post-minimalist band Icebreaker...
to accompany Virginia Astley
Virginia Astley
Virginia Astley is an English singer-songwriter most active during the 1980s and 1990s. From the start of her songwriting career in 1980, Astley took her inspiration from many sources. Her classical training influenced her as did a desire to be experimental with her music...
both on stage and record. Session work followed and alternated with her co-founding of the Electra Strings with Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist Sonia Slany and an album on the Village Life label. This neoclassical chamber quartet
Quartet
In music, a quartet is a method of instrumentation , used to perform a musical composition, and consisting of four parts.-Western art music:...
later transformed into the Brilliant Strings after she and Slany had gone their separate ways.
As a solo recording artist, Pook released several albums for the Virgin // Realworld labels. These included Deluge (1997), Flood (1999) and Untold Things (2003). Her career as a film composer
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
took flight when cuts from her album Flood were used in Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
's film Eyes Wide Shut
Eyes Wide Shut
Eyes Wide Shut is a 1999 drama film based upon Arthur Schnitzler's 1926 novella Traumnovelle . The film was directed, produced and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, and was his last film. The story, set in and around New York City, follows the sexually-charged adventures of Dr...
. The piece Masked Ball, which incorporates a fragment of an Orthodox Liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
played backwards and lyrics sung (or chanted) in Romanian
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
, underscored the infamous masked ball sequence.
Further scores have subsequently been contributed to several European films, notably the 2004
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
version of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice (2004 film)
The Merchant of Venice is a 2004 romantic drama film based on Shakespeare's play of the same name. It is the first full-length sound film version in English of Shakespeare's play; most other versions are videotaped productions made for television...
, Peter Kosminsky's film on David Kelly, The Government Inspector, "Brick Lane" and 2007's Chaotic Ana. Pook was commissioned to write a short opera, Ingerland, for ROH2 (the contemporary producing arm of London's Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
) which was performed in the Royal Opera House's Linbury Studio Theatre in June 2010.
Miscellaneous
In 1983 she appeared in the ABCABC (band)
ABC are an English band, that charted ten UK and five US Top 40 singles between 1981 and 1990. The band continues to tour and released a new album, Traffic, in 2008.-Formation:...
movie Mantrap as one of many string players for the album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
The Lexicon of Love
The Lexicon of Love
The Lexicon of Love is the critically acclaimed chart-topping debut album by British pop band ABC, released in 1982. It is a concept album in which the singer experiences heartache as he tries and fails to have a meaningful relationship....
. Most of her sessions were for Indie bands throughout the 1980s.
Pook frequently works with vocalist Melanie Pappenheim
Melanie Pappenheim
Melanie Pappenheim is an English soprano singer and composer, notable for her vocal work with various British cross-disciplinary composers, with avant-garde theatre companies and on soundtracks .-Contemporary music:Pappenheim is a frequent collaborator with contemporary composer-performers Simon...
, whom she describes as her long-time musical collaborator, and who does the majority of vocal work on Pook's music.
Career highlights
- 1991 - Viola on "Chaostrophy" on the CoilCoil (band)Coil were an English cross-genre, experimental music group formed in 1982 by John Balance—later credited as "Jhonn Balance"—and his partner Peter Christopherson, aka "Sleazy". The duo worked together on a series of releases before Balance chose the name Coil, which he claimed to be...
album Love's Secret DomainLove's Secret DomainLove's Secret Domain is the third album by Coil and was released in 1991. The album marked a departure from the brooding synthesizers and melodies of their first two albums, focusing more on acid house sampling. The singles released from the album were "Windowpane" and "The Snow"...
. - 1997 - Blow the Wind: Pie Jesu, used by Orange in TV advertising campaign.
- 1999 - score for the Stanley KubrickStanley KubrickStanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
film Eyes Wide ShutEyes Wide ShutEyes Wide Shut is a 1999 drama film based upon Arthur Schnitzler's 1926 novella Traumnovelle . The film was directed, produced and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, and was his last film. The story, set in and around New York City, follows the sexually-charged adventures of Dr...
nominated for Golden Globe AwardGolden Globe AwardThe Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
. - 2001 - wrote score for Laurent Cantet’s film L'Emploi du tempsL'Emploi du tempsTime Out is a 2001 French drama directed by Laurent Cantet, starring Aurélien Recoing and Karin Viard. Loosely based on the life story of Jean-Claude Romand , it focuses on one of Cantet's favorite subject matters: a man's relationship with his job...
. - 2002 - Phantasmaton premiered by the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance CompanyShobana Jeyasingh Dance CompanyShobana Jeyasingh Dance Company is a British dance group based in London and founded in 1988 by the company's artistic director and choreographer, Shobana Jeyasingh. The company has toured internationally including in Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, New York and throughout the United Kingdom . It is...
. - 2003 - Multimedia Award for Speaking in Tunes at the first British Composer Awards.
- 2004 - wrote score for Michael Radford’s film adaptation of The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice (2004 film)The Merchant of Venice is a 2004 romantic drama film based on Shakespeare's play of the same name. It is the first full-length sound film version in English of Shakespeare's play; most other versions are videotaped productions made for television...
. - 2007 - score for Caótica Ana.
- 2008 - score for Saint JoanSaint Joan (play)Saint Joan is a play by George Bernard Shaw, based on the life and trial of Joan of Arc. Published not long after the canonization of Joan of Arc by the Roman Catholic Church, the play dramatises what is known of her life based on the substantial records of her trial. Shaw studied the transcripts...
at The National TheatreRoyal National TheatreThe Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
won Olivier Award. - 2008 - score for PBS Frontline episode Storm Over Everest.
- 2010 - score for Julio MedemJulio MedemJulio Médem is a Spanish writer and film director.Medem was born in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain and showed an interest in movies since childhood, when he would take his father's Super 8 camera and shoot at night, while nobody was paying attention...
's film Habitación en Roma (Room in Rome).
Key works
- Blow the Wind: Pie JesuBlow the Wind: Pie JesuBlow the Wind: Pie Jesu is a piece by Jocelyn Pook with vocals by Pook, Kathleen Ferrier and Melanie Pappenheim. Composed in 1994, it first appeared on the album The Best...Classical Album in the World...Ever!.-Structure:...
(1994; mezzo-soprano, string quartet, tape) - Portraits in Absentia (1999; answerphonemessage samples, orchestra)
- Eyes Wide ShutEyes Wide ShutEyes Wide Shut is a 1999 drama film based upon Arthur Schnitzler's 1926 novella Traumnovelle . The film was directed, produced and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, and was his last film. The story, set in and around New York City, follows the sexually-charged adventures of Dr...
(1999; film score) - Saints and Sinners (2000; Persian singer (Parvin Cox), chorus, ensemble)
- L’emploi du temps (2001; film score)
- Speaking in Tunes (2002; string quartet, tape)
- The Merchant of Venice (2004; film score)
Selected recordings
- Deluge - Venture/Virgin/EMI CDVE 933
- Flood - Virgin/EMI 7243 8 48150 2 8/V2-48150
- Untold Things - Real World CDRW93